A lot of Finnish foods look very similar to American foods, on the surface at least. When eating at the cafeteria at the university, it is not all that different from being back at home. Every meal comes with a little salad, some bread, a choice of rice, potatoes or noodles, a main dish, and something to drink. It really is a full meal, and only costs students 2,60€ (about $3.00). This makes lunch a favorite among the students, here!
My first time going to the kauppatori (market square) in Oulu, I was suprised by all of the different food stands. They had everything from ice cream and waffles to soup, and traditional Finnish foods such as salmon and smelt (a small fish, usually cooked in salt) to elk, moose and even reindeer!
While all of these foods are interesting, my favorite Finnish food tradition is the coffee break. I love seeing how it brings people together, and creates time during the day to meet, discuss problems, and just to relax.
Wherever you go, I encourage you to be open to trying new foods. After all, you never know if you will like it unless you try it!
